Psychiatrist thinks my spirituality is "wrong"

I am a northerner living in the American south (Georgia). We are moving in about a year, back up north. I found this really great female psychiatrist, who is also a therapist. It has been going great, until the other day. I mentioned to her that I am sort of into the Scottish Wiccan tradition, due to the fact that I am Scottish and I also have an ongoing interest in Japanese Zen. I see spiritually or religion as a personal issue and never had an interest in arguing personal beliefs with anyone. Ever since the appointment I have felt uncomfortable with the idea of going to see her even though she is great in every other way. She said that pagans "were not very feminine" I told her that I was raised in Canada and I am no "southern belle" When my husband and I got married, it was a Wiccan ceremony and she thought that I did that to "rebel" This therapist is really helping me with the whole avoidant thing though, so I guess I will kept seeing her until we move. I guess it just shocks me that a psychiatrist would be that way about someone's personal spiritual philosophy.Sigh

Hi LimeKayak,

I'm sorry to hear that about your psychiatrist.
She has no business lecturing or critizing you on your religion. It's unprofessional, to say the very least!
I understand why you'd be uncomfortable see her again.
Have you voiced your concerns with her?
Perhaps it would help to get it out in the air, especially if you like her and want to keep seeing her.
I know how hard it is finding a good psych, but they're out there. Ones that aren't so disrespectful.

Well wishes,

Evol

Wow, my sister is pagan as well and this ticks me off. I would of mentally slapped her and left on the spot after that... Or maybe ended up in an argument. I live in the south too and it is a bit scary opening up to people down here about things that put you in a minority category, they tend to have little respect (or even disgust) for anyone different than them. (not being a hater, there are great southerners too! Look at me. )

How did you respond to her when she said that you had a Wiccan ceremony just to 'rebel'?
If she is great in every other way I can see why you would still want to see her but if it happens again I would definitely raise the issue with her and express how her views on your spirituality are unwelcome and not what you came to see her for.

I think Wicca can be really feminine.. Don't get it..

VenusWillendorf wrote:I think Wicca can be really feminine.. Don't get it..

lol That surprised me as well, Wicca is one of the few religions that focuses equally on femininity as it does masculinity (sometimes more so, depending). I have a feeling the OP is the first pagan this psychiatrist has dealt with... I hope this turns into a learning experience for them.

Once you said you were from Georgia, things made a lot more sense. I don't like the cold, but I would much rather live here in New Jersey than in the South.

In my opinion, people with any sort of bias, whether it be towards race, religion, or gender really should not be practicing psychiatry. Would it be possible to find somebody, who would be a little more accepting?